Amp supporter pushes back against lawmakers' comments

Feb. 17, 2014

Written by

:

Mike Schatzlein

Photo from AMP conceptual video

The chairman of a group pushing for Nashville to build a bus rapid transit line criticized Republican state legislative leaders Monday for working against state funding of the project.

Mayor Karl Dean and other supporters of The Amp, a proposed 7.1-mile, high-speed bus line that would connect East Nashville and West Nashville, hope to obtain $35 million from the state to cover 20 percent of the $174 million cost.

"The growth of our cities is a major contributor to our state's overall economic growth. But traffic congestion and the lack of multi-modal transit infrastructure can become barriers to that growth,” Mike Schatzlein, chairman of The Amp Coalition, said in a statement. "Rapid transit is something every Tennessee city should be able to consider. For that reason, we call on the Tennessee General Assembly to maintain all of its options when it comes to the use of state roadways.

"We are pleased that Tennessee has such a capable Department of Transportation, and each transportation infrastructure project must pass a very rigorous evaluation process by TDOT before any state commitment of funds can be made. We encourage our state lawmakers to let TDOT do its job and set the priorities that are in the state's best interest."

State Sen. Jim Tracy, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and a congressional candidate, announced at a hearing on TDOT’s budget last week that he would add language to an appropriations bill to prohibit any spending on BRT services that use any portion of a state highway. A day later, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey said he doesn’t anticipate any state funding going to the project this year, though Dean’s office said it wouldn’t be asking just yet anyway.

House Speaker Beth Harwell of Nashville told The Tennessean in November that she’s opposed to state funding of The Amp and doesn’t believe in putting state money into a mass transit project benefiting a single city.